All Blacks: Higginbotham cops suspension after strike

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw is pulled up from an altercation during the Bledisloe Cup match against the Wallabies. Photo / Getty Images

Wallabies player Scott Higginbotham has copped a two-week suspension for striking All Blacks captain Richie McCaw during Saturday's Bledisloe match.

The 26-year-old last night pleaded guilty to two strikes against the Kiwi skipper during the 18-18 match at Suncorp Stadium.

Video footage showed Higginbotham headbutting McCaw, as well as striking him with his knee in the 26th minute of the game.

Sanzar duty judicial officer Jannie Lubbe said the incidents had been low entry level and that the knee was "more of a bump than a hit,'' while the "headbutt was reckless and not executed with much force.''

Higginbotham's suspension means he will miss out on tests against France and England during the European Spring Tour next month.